The Bird & The Beast

Chapter 15

Damien stepped into the brothel, his eyes critically surveying the place until he saw Kevin Yven.

He raised his hand in greeting and the older man walked over with a smile on his face.

"Ah, hello. I believe I've seen you around, haven't I?"

"Probably," he said nonchalantly, shaking the man's proffered hand.

"How may I help you?"

Though the pleasant smile remained on his face, Damien saw a flicker of doubt in the man's eyes as he scanned him up and down.

Suspecting Kevin saw through his glamour, Damien returned the smile, albeit coldly.

"I'm here to ask a question."

"Oh?" One eyebrow shot up.

"About Raven."

"Raven?" Kevin looked puzzled. "I don't know who you're talking about."

"The black-haired girl," Damien clarified, "who sits outside all day and night. I'm certain you know her." He had to stay subtle. He didn't need the man getting the wrong idea.

"Oh! Yes, I know now," he said, his smile fading. "What about the girl? She's okay, isn't she?"

"As good as she always is," Damien said, somewhat sarcastically.

"What are your questions then?" He still seemed puzzled.

"I need to know some of Raven's background, to be blunt about it."

Kevin folded his arms over his chest. "What is she to you? Why are you so interested?" he asked gravely.

Thankfully, Damien had come prepared for that question. "I think she may be my niece."

"Her mama never mentioned having a brother," the man said warily.

Damien barely stopped himself from growling in anger. Carefully, slowly, he began to project false memories into the man's mind. If he worked too fast, the man would sense him manipulating his mind and that wouldn't work out so well.

Immortals were highly sensitive to the manipulation of the mind. Mortals, Damien had heard, not so much.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

Kevin looked thoughtful. "Come to think of it, she did mention something about a younger brother once. . .follow me."

Damien followed him into a small office, where Kevin took a seat behind a desk. Keeping his face neutral, Damien said, "After I heard about her death, I've been searching for Raven ever since. However, I need to make certain it's her."

"Raven? Is that what her name is?" Kevin stroked his chin. "She seemed to have stopped going by a name years ago. To be honest, I've forgotten it. That's not the name her mother gave her, is it?"

"No. It's my nickname for her."

Kevin nodded. "Okay. What do you want to know?"

"Obviously her mother was an immortal, but what about her father?" Damien asked.

Everyone was certain the girl was half-demon, because of her black hair and purple eyes. But the black hair could have come from having a mortal father, not just a demon for a father. Damien needed to make sure she was what everyone said. That they hadn't gotten the facts mixed up.

He frowned. "Diana didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what?" he asked tersely. If Raven's father was a mortal. . .he would throw a royal fit.